Combination incinerator and smoke eliminator

ABSTRACT

A garbage and trash incinerator having revolving inclined drum into which the garbage and trash are fed and then gradually progress through rotation and gravity and are burned as they progress therethrough, a water spray positioned adjacent the discharge end of the drum for extinguishing any remaining fire and embers, and an exhaust gas purifier through which the exhaust gases from the revolving drum are forcibly passed and are treated with water sprays to wash the same and remove any soluble and fine solid matter from said exhaust gases.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Harry A. Smuck 6050 Ritchie Highway, Anne Arundel County, Md. 21225 [2]] Appl. No. 12,760 [22] Filed Feb. 19, 1970 [45] Patented Jan. 4, 1972 [54] COMBINATION INCINERATOR AND SMOKE ELIMINATOlR 6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

52 U.S.Cl 110/14 [51] int. Cl F23g 5/06 [50] Field oiSearch 110/8, 14, 15

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,238,161 4/1941 Drew etal. 110/14 3,306,237 2/1967 Ransom,.lr 3,413,937 12/1968 Bojneretal. .1

Primary Examiner-Kenneth W. Sprague Attorneys-J. Wesley Everett and George L. Brehm PATENIED JAN 41972 31631824 SHEET" 2 [IF 2 COMBINATION INCINERATOR AND SMOKE ELIMINATOR The instant invention relates to incinerators and more particularly to incinerators for consuming solid wastes such as garbage and trash and to such incinerators in combination with smoke and exhaust gas washing devices so that substantially all smoke and other air pollutants are eliminated from the exhaust gases finally released into the atmosphere.

Air pollution, especially in and around cities, has become an ever increasing matter of concern, not only to individuals who must breathe this polluted air and are subjected to this health hazard, but to various civic groups and to branches of govemments who are held responsible and accountable by citizens under their rule for matters which are for the general health and welfare of the people. As a consequence, restrictive laws against open burning and smoke control laws are now becoming common place. The instant device, through proper buming of refuse in a closed container, under controllable conditions and proper treatment of the products of combustion issuing from such burning will substantially eliminate all pollutants from the gases finally passed into the atmosphere and will not only eliminate a major health hazard but will fully comply with any smoke control and antipollution laws now in effect.

It is the main object of my invention, therefore, to produce an incinerator and exhaust gas purifier that will effectively burn all combustible material in garbage and trash in a sub stantially smokeless manner and will then purify and scrub the exhaust gases from said burning so that only harmless inert gases are exhausted into the atmosphere.

Other objects are to produce a device which is relatively simple in construction, foolproof in operation, of long life and relatively free of service requirements.

The above, and other objects and advantages will become more apparent as this description proceeds and reference is had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the incinerator portion of my invention with portions broken away to show the interior construction;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through the discharge end of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, partly in section of the exhaust gas scrubber or purifier of the device;

FIG. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a section on line 66 of FIG. 4.

Referring now more specifically to the drawing and particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 thereof which show the incinerator portion of the device 10 generally indicates a revolving drum member which may be of relatively great proportions but the size of which is determined by the capacity requirements of the device.

The drum 10 has an outer casing member 11 which may be of metal and an inner casing or lining 12 held in coaxial or concentric relation with the outer casing by spacer members 13 (see FIG. 2). Obviously a number of such spacer members positioned longitudinally along the drum are utilized.

The space between the outer casing 11 and the inner casing 12 may be left vacant to fonn an insulating layer of air or it may be filled as shown in FIG. 1 with insulating material 14 such as asbestos, mineral wool or the like.

The inner casing or lining 12 is solid for the greater portion of the length thereof, but near the discharge end is perforated with numerous holes 15 as shown in detail in the fragmentary view of FIG. 3.

The entire drum 10 is mounted on roller means 16 so as to be rotatable on is own axis and as may be seen in FIG. 1 is preferably mounted on an incline, the purpose of which will become more clear as this description proceeds.

Any suitable means such as motor and reduction gear 17 through drive means 18 may be employed to turn the drum 10.

A stationary closure or cap member 19 is used to substantially enclose the lower end of the revolving casing and a water supply line 20 appropriately provided with a control valve 21 extends through the cap and back into the revolving drum as indicated at 22, at which point a sprinkler head or water spray head 23 is attached.

An opening 24 at the lower portion of the cap provides for discharge of matter reaching this point after travelling the length of the revolving casing as hereinafter described.

Also, an exhaust gas discharge duct 25 is provided in the cap and the same may be provided with an exhaust fan with motor drive 26 for drawing the exhaust gases from the incinerator and out through duct 27.

The operation of the incinerator member just described is as follows:

Waste matter such as trash, garbage, etc. to be burned is fed into the revolving drum at the higher end and a convenient loading platform such as shown at 28 may be provided therefor. It is burned within the drum as it progresses slowly under the influence of gravity and the revolving action of the drum and when it reaches the lower end of the incline all combustible matter has been substantially entirely consumed. To cool the remaining incombustible matter and extinguish any possible embers the water spray 23 is played on the matter and it is then discharged through the opening 24 in the cap into a container or preferably a conveyor 29 where it may be carried away to be used for land fill or the like.

The water spray 23 when played on the matter will for the most part seep through the openings 15 in the inner casing or lining 12 onto the inner surface of the outer casing l 1 and will then also be dumped on the conveyor 29, but as the latter is preferably made of perforated material will drain through and may then be carried ofi' through the pipe 30.

It has been found that once burning of the refuse in the drum has been started it is self sustaining and continuous as long as new waste is added as that in the drum is consumed.

The gases from combustion of the waste in the incinerator are carried off through ducts 25 and 27 by the power fan means 26 and these products of combustion are sent through scrubbing and purifying apparatus before discharge into the atmosphere. Such apparatus may take the form as hereinafter described. FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 illustrate this apparatus.

The scrubbing and purifying means comprises one or more scrubbers generally indicated at 31. If more than one is used they are connected in series as shown in FIG. 4 and as each is a duplicate of the next, a detail description of one will suffice for all.

Each scrubber consists of an outer housing 32 with an intake 33 for gases to be purified at its lower portion and an outlet at its top at 34.

To assist the gases into and through the scrubber, a fan 35 is located in the intake 33.

Located within the housing 32 between the top thereof to a point somewhat above the intake 33 for the gases, a series of vertically spaced rotary discs 36 are mounted. These discs are arranged to be freely rotatable on vertical axes 37 and each disc is somewhat conically peaked at 38 and is provided with upstanding radially arranged fins 39. The circumferential edges of the discs are spaced slightly at 40 from the inner wall of the casing 32 to provide a circular open area around the discs for the passage of gases and fluid as described in the following.

One or more water jets 41 is positioned above each disc and its nozzle 42 is pointed to direct a stream of water secantwise across the disc and impinge against the fins 39 and cause the disc to rotate. Through rotation of the disc the water is through outwardly by centrifugal force against the inner wall of casing 32. Each disc is made to rotate in an opposite direction from the disc above or below it by properly directing the nozzle or nonles operating each disc.

In operation of the scrubber the products of combustion to be cleaned are conducted from the exhaust duct of the incinerator furnace or the like and into the intake duct 33 of the scrubber, being assisted and propelled by the fan 35. These gases enter the lower portion of the scrubber below the rotating discs. They must then pass upwardly around the outer peripheries of the rotating discs and there be encountered by the spray of water being thrown outwardly by the discs. The encounter of water with the gases will capture any small solid particles such as fly ash and any soluble gaseous substances which the products of combustion contain and carry them downwardly through the drain pipe 43 and into a settlement tank 44.

The scrubbed and cleaned gases then pass upwardly and outwardly through outlet duct 34 and may then be exhausted to the atmosphere or be conducted through one or more additional scrubbers as the need may indicate and as shown in the drawing. Each of the additional scrubbers functions exactly as the first above described and each additional scrubber will further refine the exhaust gases.

As a final step, a glass wool filter (not shown) but enclosed in a cabinet shown at 45 may be employed. If used, gases from the outlet duct 34 of the final scrubber are introduced to this filter through duct 46 and exhausted through outlet duct 47.

Water from the jets 41 which is drained into the settlement tank 44 may be recirculated after sediment etc. has precipitated. For this purpose a pump 48 receiving water through intake pipe 49 from the settlement tank feeds the water to the jets through supply pipes 50.

Having described a preferred form of my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An incinerator comprising:

a. an elongated cylindrical drum;

b. means for mounting said drum in an inclined plane;

c. a stationary cap member having an end wall and cylindrical sidewalls, the latter extending over and around the lower end of said cylindrical drum;

d. the end wall of said cap having an exhaust duct extending therefrom and an opening therein for discharge of solid matter therethrough;

e. a water supply pipe projecting through the stationary cap and extending inwardly of the lower free end of the rotating drum; and

f. sprinkler means on the water supply pipe within the free end of the rotating drum.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 in which the rotating drum comprises an outer casing and an inner casing in spaced concentric relation within the outer casing, said casings fixed with respect to each other.

3. The structure defined in claim 2 in which insulating material is placed between the inner and outer casings.

4. The structure defined in claim 2 in which the inner casing is perforated at the lower free end in which the sprinkler means is located.

5. The structure defined in claim 1 in combination with an exhaust gas scrubber connected with said exhaust duct.

6. The structure defined in claim 5 in which said scrubber comprises a casing, a plurality of rotating battles in said cas- 8;

water supply means above said rotating bafiles, said baffles throwing said water outwardly by centrifugal force from said rotating baffles to create a water bath and means to force said exhaust gases through said water bath. 

1. An incinerator comprising: a. an elongated cylindrical drum; b. means for mounting said drum in an inclined plane; c. a stationary cap member having an end wall and cylindrical sidewalls, the latter extending over and around the lower end of said cylindrical drum; d. the end wall of said cap having an exhaust duct extending therefrom and an opening therein for discharge of solid matter therethrough; e. a water supply pipe projecting through the stationary cap and extending inwardly of the lower free end of the rotating drum; and f. sprinkler means on the water supply pipe within the free end of the rotating drum.
 2. The structure defined in claim 1 in which the rotating drum comprises an outer casing and an inner casing in spaced concentric relation within the outer casing, said casings fixed with respect to each other.
 3. The structure defined in claim 2 in which insulating material is placed between the inner and outer casings.
 4. The structure defined in claim 2 in which the inner casing is perforated at the lower free end in which the sprinkler means is located.
 5. The structure defined in claim 1 in combination with an exhaust gas scrubber connected with said exhaust duct.
 6. The structure defined in claim 5 in which said scrubber comprises a casing, a plurality of rotating baffles in said casinG; water supply means above said rotating baffles, said baffles throwing said water outwardly by centrifugal force from said rotating baffles to create a water bath and means to force said exhaust gases through said water bath. 